Thursday, February 21, 2013

It's ON! The Scrap Fx chipboard techniques Blog Hop


Hello! Hello!

I am SO EXCITED to share my chipboard techniques with you today!

You've already visited the following blogs:
Make sure to visit these gals next:
Your last stop will be the Scrap FX blog- http://www.scrapfx.com.au/blog/

To be entered to the drawing for the final prize please answer the following question in the comments section:
What chipboard designs do you want to see more of and what theme or motif do you think has "jumped the shark" (been done to death, is played out, over exposed and boring- you get the idea- LOLZ!)
Personally, I am over bicycles, chevron and cameras.
I am SO in love with stars, triangles, butterflies and delicate swirly script titles.
FEAST YOUR EYES!!!
Check out the "Unforgettable" wordlet!! SWOOOON!!!
Also included the mini cogs (perfect for decorating photo edges), the wonderfully articulated
feather and clear butterflies you can use as stencils or color with alcohol inks.
You KNOW you want them!!! Just answer the question above in the comments section. 
Ok onto the show!!
Today I want to talk to you about layering.

I love to use my chippies totally naked- their neutral brown color goes so well with most of the modernist inspired designs I tend to make.

Scrap FX items: Flutterby J rose model #2013013,
Paper butterfly A model # 2013025,
Paper Butterfly c model #2013027,
Unforgettable wordlet model #2013037
The first element I chose for this page was the spray painted banner strip.
I loved the yellow color and that it made windows on the paper.

Depending on your scrap style, layering is either super easy or incredibly difficult.
It took me quite a while to figure out what I liked to do most.
This page has very few actual elements but each adds a bit of visual interest.
A special eye was kept on the proportions.
I wanted a 60/40 negative space versus embellishment ratio.
MATH MUMBO JUMBO! you say. After looking over many of my past projects,
I found I tend to take over the page and leave very little room for the eye to "rest".
I designed the page so that all "lines" led to the relatively small photo.
I then added extra emphasis with the butterfly embellishments.
MICHELLE'S LAYERING TIPS 
(or- what I've discovered while messing around with paper)
  • Always throw in a couple of clear elements to make windows into your layers. Printed transparency material, vellum, frame die cuts or paper you have cut shapes into all work.
  • "Layer" with your adhesives. Try using staples, tape AND stickers to attach a main element to the page. Washi tape is semi transparent so it's especially good for this treatment.
  • Keep an eye to proportion and edge shape- you can start small and move up to large elements but many times the smallest edge showing between larger items has bigger impact. 
  • Alternate the edge shapes. Many of my favorite scrappers rip or distress their edges. I love that look but ripping requires lots of practice- it can be unpredictable. I tend to use punches to change the shapes of my layering items.
  • Keep color and texture foremost in mind when choosing items. The most interesting layers include unexpected touches of fabric, plastic or metal. Throw in some string. Experiment.
  • Make your embellishments first then design a page around them. Choose your color palette and your patterns then start building your embellishments. The photos can come last.
This title is so unbelievably beautiful. I love the script font. I have ruined many a beautiful scrip wordlet with chunky embossing so I decided to leave well enough alone.  I simply painted the points of the word using Heidi Swapp Color Shine in Sweet Cherry and added some texture by stitching the wordlet to the page using American Crafts jute twine.
In case you haven't heard- there is a DESIGN TEAM CALL. (Find all details in the link)
Email submissions are due March 1st.
I really encourage you to submit your work!!!


To be entered to the drawing for the final prize please answer the following question in the comments section:

What chipboard designs do you want to see more of and what theme or motif do you think has "jumped the shark" (been done to death, is played out, over exposed and boring- you get the idea- LOLZ!)

Onto the next blog!


MuChOs SmOoChEs!
Michelle

66 comments:

  1. I am now a follower! Great blog hop and love your technique!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow thanks for the great technique and actually sharing it with us... I can see we both used butterfly's... Well done they are lucky to have u and congrats

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the use of layers. Great technique, TFS

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh this is just delicious, love the bits of colors and yummy layers :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am over owls and cameras, still loving my chevrons and would love to see some note paper edge border chippies.

    I sooo love your page Michelle, the cut out banners with pp behind, just gorgeous and the dark background really draws focus to your baby's beautiful eyes!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for the great tips on layering. Love the page and also the idea of sewing on the words, going to try that one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So many butterflies around. Don't hate them, just sooo many around. Also a little over all the grassy/stems (but still love them on a great layout) and the cutesy birds.. Except owls.., Loved them since I was a il'l tacker so I'll always have a soft spot for them ;-) More??? Boy stuff... That isn't cogs!!! Oh, and you can never have too many stars or hearts :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love your layout - especially the tiny touches of colour on your gorgeous chippy title with the colour shine and the twine - fabulous!
    I too am a bit over the chevrons but still can't get enough of the scripty pretty titles and flourishes.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful layout, I love the subtle touches of color on the chippies, happy to be following you now!

    ReplyDelete
  10. OH My WOW!! I love your style! Beautiful work!! I'm terrible at keeping up with blogs but I will for sure be back here. bookmarking now :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love birdcages and butterfly chipboards. I don't want the arrows anymore. may washi tapes can do that already. LOL! loved your style. so glad to have found your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great tips!!! Gorgeous work! I love that yellow and the way you used the negative as a border was so creative!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Ah, that's sweet! Great design and use of the word chipboard.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is awesome! I love your tips and that layout is AMAZING!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Stunning layout, I am over chevrons as well and would love to see more charm like chippies

    ReplyDelete
  16. So so beautiful is this page!!! You've rocked our favorite color, the negative border is too fabulous, and I adore how you've used the butterflies - totally coveting them over here - the right page must beckon me LOL. Really diggin' the tips you've offered as well!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great layout - I think I am a little over cogs and wheels, while i still like them I am getting over seeing them ALL The time.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great tips Michelle any tips on how to just STOP!!!!???? I can never do the whole white space thing LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Amazing as always Michelle!! Love the stitched on title & the math mumbo jumbo ;) Makes sense to me, but I'm a nerd. :)

    Personally I think hexies are overdone & birds too.. I love hexies sparingly, but EVERYONE seems to make them.. and birds, well I never liked birds. :P.

    I love script titles and flourishy frames... more of those would be awesome! :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Gorgeous work! I'm a sucker for 'fences'....of all persuasions! I'm a bit over butterflies, myself....but we're all different:):):) TFS your tips!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. what a great idea...thanks for sharing...... I seem to see cogs everywhere these days, but in saying that, I do lts of grungy pages and I have boys so I love cogs and things, I do love the new cogs with trees, butterflies etc that you have not long released

    ReplyDelete
  22. Gorgeous page and love your tips on layering! I love that you sewed the title to the page, I would never have thought of doing that! I am a huge fan of chippies and I would love to see more vines, branches, trees! I really can't say that I am "over" any designs, as I always find a chippie that fits my theme! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great techniques, thanks for sharing. I love any type of flourishes but I really love all the words that Scrap FX has. I also love to see leaves and swirls within frames!

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a "MARVELOUS" lo I also love yellow but never tend to use it so weird!!! I so admire your naked chippies lol. I sometimes think it's the best way to use them like that! Thank you for the layering tip. I would love to see more floral corners and I really really like to see more phrases never can have to much of those right? Hugs Amy :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thanks for sharing! Totally agree with Kerry.... Too many Butterflies! Maybe more native animals to your own country eg Australia (the kookaburra, koala etc). Loving all the techniques though - great ideas ! T x

    ReplyDelete
  26. Lovely page.

    In chipboards, I just love swirly titles, frames (round and elliptical) with swirls, cool arrows and cogs for boyish pages.
    I`m not over the moon about owls. But I never has been, so I guess it is all about taste ;)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Outstanding minimalistic page! I am really inspired with this work and what a great colors too!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi! Nice tips you gave us, thank you! here in Europe we have the old design chipboard(at least in Holland and Switzerland. I have sort of enough from the arrows, owls and dressforms, and LOVe plants, flowers swirls. Yhanks for sharing , bye bye!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Awesome work Michelle,Love your layers & how you stitched on the wordlet!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Fabulous page! I would love to see more sports themed chipboard and stars. I think I have had enough of chevrons and camera chippies.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love your layout! I really love words and shapes, I still love chevrons, but never got into the cameras.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Really enjoyed your layering tips-thanks for sharing! I'd love to see more vintage themed items and feathers, and I am tired of chevrons, owls and hexagons-all way too trendy for my taste, and done to death!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I loved your list of layout components and that you stitched that gorgeous chipboard word on. Beautiful!
    I'd like to see more realistic nautical rather than cutesy nautical chipboard shapes. I too am done with the sewing/dressform stuff.
    - Ann Jobes
    www.lovestnpaper.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great layout as always, Michelle! I would like to see more swirly scripts - so gorgeous! And I agree about the camera. But I would also like to see other geometrical shapes... not just triangles!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Cool layout! I love to layer but yours is amazing! As far as what I would to see more of are more decorative frames, flowers and I love flourishes. As far as overdone..ehh arrows and hexagons like most of the ladies have already mentioned.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Great job! Love the use of the "almost black" with yellow. I have been wanting to use black but have stopped myself. Not tomorrow will be on it! I am tired of seeing the chevrons! I feel like that is all I see everywhere!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love the pops of color in your layout. Your layering is gorgeous and I am saving your tips!
    I had to laugh in your question about what chippies we'd like to see more of because you stated camera's as one that's been overdone and on another blog I requested more! lol but, I don't want just a camera..I want things like..maybe an old time camera, the ones that stand on legs, more photo sayings, etc..
    That being said I think birds have been way overdone but I recently purchased the FX birds on the wires! I think what I tend to buy is not really what is the newest thing but more as to what is unique. Like the birds on a wire...I have a zillion birds and birdcages, but when I saw the birds on a wire I had to have it...
    I too will never...ever have enough of flourishes! and I also would love to see more small chippies..ones I can use on cards :o)

    ReplyDelete
  38. this rocks....i love everything about this

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'd like to see more social media icons like facebook thumbs, twitter bird, map markers, etc. I think the hexagon is a little overused (even though i still use it all the time). Arrows are starting to get there but I still like them :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. What a fantastic LO and tut. Love all the details.I am really a lot of things I always wanted to know. I love how you painted the tips of the word. I would love to see more flourishes and letters. Now following your blog too.This is great inspiration. Thanks!!
    Huggies
    Rachelle
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
  41. Gorgeous title! I am over the cameras. I can't ever get enough butterflies, arrows, and beautiful script words.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Never enough butterflies so love them. Don't think there is anything I'm over seeing yet.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hey, girl! Beautiful layout and LOVE just the touch of color on the title. =)

    Personally, I'm just getting back into artmaking so I'm not tired of chevrons and cameras and arrows yet. I'm still trying to figure out how to use spray paints so I've been trying out my hand on making my own stamps, stencils and printing plates. =)

    ReplyDelete
  44. I totally agree with you - that script font title is just gorgeous and that's what i want to see more of. I know that ScrapFX already offers lots of those, but i can never get enough!!! I like flourishes and leaves.

    ReplyDelete
  45. New follower here-love your innovative takes on the chippies!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Oh wow, this looks totally amazing! The neutral tones match your lay-out just perfectly and I love the stitches that you added.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Wow thank you for everything, it is magnificent. That I would like writing in French for them from Quebec as me and I believes that that would please in French also, I still adore the butterflies, the arrows and the chevrons.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Michelle, thanks for demonstrating that naked chipboard is a perfect form of art on a project. Brave leap and I will try this too. I would like to see faux metal chipboard. I guess using tin foil might qualify, but no metal sheets is my quest for 2013... thanks for asking
    great layout!!!
    ava g

    ReplyDelete
  49. Great page! Love how you stitched your title piece on the page using vibrant colors. Perfect touch!

    ReplyDelete
  50. You are so right about the chevrons and cameras! I would add hexagons to that.. but I still use them a bit. Not enough Easter stuff - really, I would love some baskets and bunnies! Way too many hearts everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I just love the yellow and black!
    And the title is just such a beautiful piece!

    I would love to see some wood veneer pieces, and tiny chipboard pieces :)

    ReplyDelete
  52. I would like to see more things like the brick wall, chicken wire and so on... I love your layout so pretty... thanks for sharing...

    ReplyDelete
  53. I wish to see more of lovely fonts and chicken wire or background patterns chipboards! Am your new follower and love hopping! Think I am done with polka dots and chevron!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Love your tips for layers. Would love to see more "manly" chippies. Never became a fan of the chevron.

    ReplyDelete
  55. I am done with the postage stamps. They were fun, but I struggle to use them in new ways now.
    Love vines and ferns and swirls with leaves.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I am so over chevrons! And I never got into the cameras and bicycles...I just didn't get it. I would love to see more Nature related pieces. I have so many things nature related and I'm over using stickers...lol.
    I love the ideas for layering...thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  57. I am so over chevrons! And I never got into the cameras and bicycles...I just didn't get it. I would love to see more Nature related pieces. I have so many things nature related and I'm over using stickers...lol.
    I love the ideas for layering...thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  58. I think I can do without seeing 'arrows' not a huge fan of it. But what I'd like to see are "Birdcages and Gazebo"! So glad to be doing this hop because I'm learning so much! I'm a follower of your blog now :-) Thanks so so much for the "Layering tips" I really need them (just getting into LO). Also, I love chippies in their natural color, love the color of wood.
    Thanks again Michelle, your work is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  59. wow!!! as regards me i love steamunk , butterfly!! hugs

    ReplyDelete
  60. Wow this looks so kool love it the colours just pop...hugs Anita..xx

    ReplyDelete
  61. Oh wow, I haven't been here in a bit and WOW! I'm missing a ton of good stuff! Lot's of great advice, love the whole idea of clear elements as layers = Vellum!! I've seen you do fabulous things with it :) This is a sweet, sweet page and everything does point to that sweet photo. OK, what do I want to see...feathers (totally into them right now), typewriters, and I'll never tire of stars. If I had to pick one, I'm sorta not a flourish person...

    ReplyDelete
  62. Just love your page!!! Love the design and use of black background with some colors! Thank you so much for you kind words in my blog ♥

    ReplyDelete
  63. Sometimes less is more, and that certainly is the case with your layout, love that the chipboard is just as stunning with or without treatment. A striking layout TFS

    ReplyDelete

Ok peeps lets CHAT! You tell me what you REALLY think and I PROMISE to keep it open minded here.